Jacobs can sum up Mutiny Within’s sound as “shred with clean vocals, with a little bit of screaming, metal riffs, accessible parts and a lot of melody. We wanted to get all the melody in there. That is the number one thing for us. We want the music to reach metal fans and beyond. We want to reach everyone in between.”
While these metal upstarts Mutiny Within may have started out as a Children of Bodom cover band – and they’re not embarrassed to admit it since they did grow out of it quickly only to become their own shred-happy entity- the sextet truly stepped on the path to recognition when they started writing their own songs. With origins in the great state of New Jersey, known for producing some of the top, up and coming metal talent in recent years, Mutiny Within also demonstrated their ability to remain ahead of the curve by embracing technology (and we’re not talking about the studio trickery kind) and social networking features to take their band to the next level.
Jacobs formed the band in 2002 and endured a turbulent yet typical early existence until he solidified the lineup. His younger brother Brandon actually plays guitar and was a mere 18-years-old when he recorded the album. Vocalist Chris Clancy was imported from England after the band discovered this talented vox over a YouTube video and now resides in New Jersey. This is a band, who with their self-titled debut, are on the verge of being the valedictorians of the Guitar Hero generation. They play with astonishing technical skill with a forward-thinking songwriting style that can be viewed as modernly progressive, but definitely not “prog.” The band’s use of keyboards also elevates their sound above and beyond just another up and coming metal band.
“We were looking for a vocalist and we saw a video of Chris singing, so we contacted him and asked him to try putting vocals over one of our songs,” Jacobs recalls. “He was the first audition and he rocked it. It was perfect. The only problem was that he lived in England, but he took a risk, flew over and made it work. He lives in my house now.” Indeed, Mutiny Within keep things in the family, since the band practices in the basement of drummer Bill Fore, who lives a mere twenty minutes from the Jacobs’ abode.
Once Clancy committed to making the trek across the pond- he had nothing else to lose as a 23-year-old English kid working at a T-Mobile store- this band of hungry, young turks, who play like a troupe of seasoned, shredding veterans, wrote a whopping 50 songs together, fuelling one another’s creativity. The flurry of activity surrounding the band, including their enthrallingly intense live show, captured the attention of Roadrunner Records, which signed the band. After the signing, the band kept writing and eventually went to work with producer Jason Bieler. Clancy’s college friend, Dan Bage, eventually joined the band in the middle of recording, which not only makes Mutiny Within an unintentionally “international band,” but was a situation that invigorated them, too. “Dan was so good that it wasn’t like we were in the middle of making the record and got a stranger,” Jacobs recalled. “It was Chris’ friend and the best guy for the job technically. He flew over, we threw him in the studio, and he did seven solos, wrote four verses and helped rewrite parts, so he is just as important to the band.” Clearly, Mutiny Within are a band that can be thrown into the crackling fires of chaotic situations and emerge stronger and more focused than before.
Clancy started singing when he was 15-years-old and consistently worked to hone his craft through noted vocal coach Melissa Cross, so he could truly learn to sing, which only adds to the depth of dynamics on Mutiny Within. He was not hesitant to abandon his native England in order to pursue his rock ‘n roll and heavy metal dreams, either. Clancy said, “I wanted to do this since I was a kid and first started playing in bands. I got myself in a band in Wales and then I dropped my social life there and abandoned my friends to write music and to practice, but that didn’t go past the interest stage, so it wasn’t a hard decision to come to America. I quit the job, got on a flight and came over. I spent my life trying to be in a band. That was always my plan, so I told myself if I have to move to do it, I’ll do it.”
“We have all these technical guys who can play so many types of music and have so many different tastes, so for those 50 songs, we went around the world and back,” Jacobs says. Obviously, not all 50 songs made the cut, but the sheer numbers demonstrate the band’s abilities and range. “The 11 songs we picked for the record are our best songs,” Jacobs adds.
The band was introduced to the metal world in Fall 2009, via their first national tour with Soulfly, Prong and Cattle Decapitation, in addition to the dozens of local, hometown shows they’ve logged and tucked under their belts and will spend much of the year following the release of Mutiny Within touring and turning heads.
The opening track “Awake” is one which defines the band’s sound, with Jacobs saying, “we get more diverse, with different keys, tempos and styles throughout, but that’s the song that defines our sound.” “Reflections” is another band favorite, thanks to its unforgettable melodies. While Jacobs says that “Forsaken” is the song where “we stepped outside the box to show a different side of the band, with clean guitars.”
It appears as though the Mutiny Within story is just beginning and that the ins and outs of their formation will lead to a happy ending. “We dedicated our whole lives to this,” Jacobs said. “Two guys dropped their lives in England and didn’t know if it would work, since we weren’t even signed at the time, but we had that dedication to do it.”
Certainly, Mutiny Within aren’t a traditional band, having used technology and the Internet to their benefit and thus forcing the band to work in different ways. “Most bands get in a van, go out, play, tour, tour, tour,” Jacobs said.
“We’re at that chapter now. The focus for us was always just writing songs. That’s been our lives. We played 30 shows with Chris and then got signed. We made every song as special as the next. Each track has lots of time put into it. We were a band that aspired to get a deal and make records, so we made the focus of efforts the songs.”
Mission accomplished on Mutiny Within: 11 songs that usher in a new generation of me
Lights
Mutiny Within Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn out the lights,
How could I have known,
Still left in the wake of life,
A void in my heart grows,
Just can't take no more,
And I can't see all that I leave behind,
So sorry,
I'm just coming the end,
Forgive me,
Let me be,
Just let me go,
Turn out the lights,
I close my eyes and say goodnight,
Turn out the lights,
Remember me,
Goodbye, I'm sorry,
Bid this life farewell,
Sever all the hurt and set me free,
Gone not forgotten,
Just can't take no more,
And I can't see all that I leave behind,
Can't cry these tears no more,
So sorry,
I'm just coming to the end,
Turn out the lights,
I close my eyes and say goodnight,
Turn out the lights,
Remember me,
Goodbye, I'm sorry,
Grieve no more my friend,
I can't go on,
Bid farewell to this world,
Take my hand,
All I ask is forgive me as I,
Turn out the lights,
Turn out the lights,
Turn out the lights,
I close my eyes and say goodnight,
Turn out the lights,
Remember me,
Goodbye, I'm sorry
Turn out the lights,
Remember me,
Goodbye, I'm sorry
The lyrics of Mutiny Within's "Lights" is quite heartbreaking as it depicts the struggles of a person who is at the end of their journey in life. The repetition of "Turn out the lights" emphasizes the idea of the end, and the persona saying goodbye to everything and everyone they have ever known. The persona in the song is filled with regret for the things they have done in life and seeks forgiveness for them. They are exhausted and cannot take the pain and suffering anymore. The persona also cannot see the beauty of anything left behind, and it pains them to continue on this journey.
The lyrics of the song are quite emotive, and it expresses a message that is relatable to anyone who has ever felt the weight of regret, loss, and pain in their lives. Sometimes, in life, we may face difficult situations that make us question our existence, and it is at such times that we need to choose the right path that leads to healing, growth, and acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn out the lights,
The request to turn the lights off could be symbolic or literal, signaling the end of a phase, a chapter, or the end of life itself.
How could I have known,
Reflecting on the past and questioning the decisions that led to this moment, expressing regret for things done or left undone.
Still left in the wake of life,
Feeling lost, left behind, or forgotten by the rest of the world, still struggling to make sense of the changes and challenges that life presents.
A void in my heart grows,
Experiencing emptiness, loneliness, sadness, and a profound sense of loss that cannot be easily remedied or explained.
Just can't take no more,
Being overwhelmed, exhausted, or demoralized, wishing for an escape, either through death or some other drastic measure.
And I can't see all that I leave behind,
Bemoaning the fact that leaving this life will mean leaving behind loved ones, unfinished projects, unfulfilled dreams, or other parts of a legacy that seem too important to abandon.
Can't cry these tears no more,
Being emotionally drained, having cried too much already, and feeling that no amount of tears will change the outcome or alleviate the pain.
So sorry,
Expressing remorse, guilt, or shame for what has happened, or for what one has done or failed to do.
I'm just coming the end,
Acknowledging that the end is near, and that there is no turning back, no hope for a different outcome or a second chance.
Forgive me,
Asking for forgiveness from oneself, from a higher power, or from others who may have been hurt or affected by one's actions or inactions.
Let me be,
Desiring to be left alone, to find peace, to escape the burdens and responsibilities of life, and to find rest.
Just let me go,
Appealing to others to allow one to die or to leave without interference or objection, recognizing that this may be the only way to end the pain and suffering.
I close my eyes and say goodnight,
Accepting the inevitability of death, and choosing to embrace it, to find solace and comfort in the idea of sleep and rest.
Remember me,
Asking for others to remember one's life, one's legacy, and the impact that one had on others, hoping that one's memory will live on.
Goodbye, I'm sorry,
Saying farewell to life and to others, apologizing for any harm done or for any mistakes made, expressing gratitude and appreciation for the time one had.
Bid this life farewell,
Saying goodbye to one's mortal existence, to the world as we know it, and to everything that we have come to cherish or dread.
Sever all the hurt and set me free,
Expressing the desire to cut ties with one's pain, one's sorrows, and one's burdens, and to find freedom and release beyond the confines of this life.
Gone not forgotten,
Believing in the idea of an afterlife or in the persistence of memory, hoping that one will continue to exist, in some form or another, beyond death.
Grieve no more my friend,
Asking others to let go of their grief, to remember the good times, and to celebrate the life that one has had, rather than focusing on the loss or the pain.
I can't go on,
Expressing hopelessness, desperation, or despair, feeling that one can no longer bear the weight of life's challenges, and longing for rest or release.
Take my hand,
Appealing to a higher power or to a loved one to guide one through the transition to death or to the beyond, seeking comfort and reassurance in an uncertain world.
All I ask is forgive me as I,
Again asking for forgiveness, recognizing the gravity of what is about to happen, and hoping that others will judge one kindly or mercifully.
Contributed by Thomas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.